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South Africa's ANC at its 'weakest', says Ramaphosa
South Africa's ANC at its 'weakest', says Ramaphosa
Africa
by  AFP

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said Friday that his ruling African National Congress party was at its "weakest", after a historic loss in municipal polls last year. Ramaphosa is expected to seek a second five-year term, but could face a challenge from a faction of the party that is loyal to former president Jacob Zuma, who has been accused of corruption.

Price hikes boost P&G profits despite lower China sales
Price hikes boost P&G profits despite lower China sales
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Higher prices helped Procter & Gamble score increased quarterly profits despite a hit to China sales, and executives on Friday described inflation as having a relatively limited impact thus far on demand. However, P&G executives said sales in China suffered an 11 percent hit due to Covid-19 lockdowns, with the earnings release highlighting the impact in beauty, grooming and health care.

Blinken to counter Russian charm offensive in Africa
Blinken to counter Russian charm offensive in Africa
World
by  AFP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel next month to South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, the State Department announced Friday, as Washington ramps up diplomacy in Africa to counter a Russian charm offensive.

France charges 5 more of Gabon ex-leader's children: judicial source
France charges 5 more of Gabon ex-leader's children: judicial source
Africa
by  AFP

France has charged five more children of former Gabonese president Omar Bongo in a long-running inquiry over ill-gotten wealth, a judicial source said Friday. They have already charged four other adult children, as well as a former Miss France, over receiving Parisian apartments from the late president.

World Bank refuses new funding for bankrupt Sri Lanka
World Bank refuses new funding for bankrupt Sri Lanka
World
by  AFP

The World Bank said Friday it would not offer new funding to Sri Lanka unless the bankrupt island nation carried out "deep structural reforms" to stabilise its crashing economy. "This requires deep structural reforms that focus on economic stabilisation, and also on addressing the root structural causes that created this crisis."